This list is updated every 2 weeks. This list is compiled from my non-stop research of the current market. I believe these were the most demand and growing in value books this month. I did not focus on variants specifically as I can’t even keep track of them all. If you think I have missed any hot titles/issues of the last 5 years please let me know. Sales were at a very weak point during late May and all of June but July sales have already started to pick up on many titles. Here are my picks of what I believe are the hottest comics at this very moment from all sold releases of the last few years online based on back issue sales ABOVE cover price.

#1 THE LAST OF US (DARK HORSE) – 4 issue mini-series all issues instant sellouts and tie-in to video game. All issues are sold out and Diamond has sold out of #4 a month before its release. Currently all 3 1st print issues are selling for on average $23.00 EACH ! #3 hit a high of $41.00 the week of release. Print runs of issues #1-3 are very low. Print run of #4 jumped way up and is a common book. Complete set of 4 issues hit high of $160.00 in early July. I sold a few sets at $100.00. Only #1 has had a reprint so far and that 2nd printing might be so rare that it did not chart which means likely a print run of less than 3,000 copies. Reprints were scheduled by Dark Horse for #1-3 and then cancelled but now rescheduled to come out mid August.

Last of Us American Dreams, 1, $3.99, Dark Horse, 6,012

Last of Us American Dreams, 2, $3.99, Dark Horse, 4,991

Last of Us American Dreams, 3, $3.99, Dark Horse, 5,014

#2 WATSON AND HOLMES (2013) Small print run of 3,800 copies between 2 regular covers sold out instantly and brought sales of up to $50.00 each in first week and then cooled off.

#3 CLONE (IMAGE 2012) On July 15th 2013 it was announced that the new TV series was official and that drove up prices on #1 even though it has a larger print run over 20,000. Diamond still had copies in warehouse up to this news announcement and then sold its last 1,000 copies within days. #1 currently at $10.00

#4 TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH (Image) #1 hit high of $20 immediately in January week of release and then settled down. Smaller print run. Mini-series #1-4 is sold out and will become ongoing soon from Image with #5 coming out in a month. News of a new tv/movie reported on July 13th made the #1 a super hot comic instantly with sales as high as $40.00 each and sets hitting record highs. #1 and #2 have a 2nd print which are both rarer typically in print run than the originals.

197, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth, 1, $2.99, Image, 7,879

240, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth, 2, $2.99, Image, 6,177

224, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth, 3, $2.99, Image, 7,140

230, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth, 4, $2.99, Image, 7,113

#5 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US (DC) – the hottest DC title of 2013 with small print runs and 3rd prints selling out. Peaked in May at $85.00 for set of #1-4 Many sellers with reprint sets that also sell well. #1 2nd printing hit $12.00 #1 $40 #2 $25 #3 $8 #4 $5 #5-6 $4. I predicted this could be a hit when I saw the initial print run numbers so low and yet featuring major characters Batman, Joker, Superman, Wonder Woman etc.

96, Injustice Gods Among Us, 1, $3.99, DC, 20,733

120, Injustice Gods Among Us, 2, $3.99, DC, 17,068

118, Injustice Gods Among Us, 3, $3.99, DC, 18,068

98, Injustice Gods Among Us, 4, $3.99, DC, 21,669

89, Injustice Gods Among Us, 5, $3.99, DC, 25,215

83, Injustice Gods Among Us, 6, $3.99, DC, 26,011.

#6 PETER PANZERFAUST (Image) #1-9 prices peaked in March. #8 and #9 really hot but less demand for #4-6. One season of the TV series seems guaranteed. #1 hit high of $300 now around $200.00 Current prices #2 $60 / #3 $20 / #4-7 $10 each / #8 $20 / #9 $20. Print runs for #6 7 8 were so low they did not even chart during the month. Note the print run increaes for #10 and then #11.

#7 THE WALKING DEAD (Image) #108 1st app Ezekiel and #110 origin and battle of Ezekiel with Michonne. All back issues #1-110 are sold out and bring above cover prices. #92 and #93 extremely hot at $30.00 each. Retailers upped their orders yet again starting with #109 onwards after the sellout of #108. This is the highest print runs have ever been (not counting #100).

#8 EAST OF WEST (Image) #1 Hot as a pre-seller and has stabilized at $7.00. 4th printing already and sets of #1-4 sell really well. This is a rare modern example of a comic with a huge print run that still sells out due to popularity and goes to reprints on every issue. It’s the “2013″ version of Saga in terms of popularity. All issues have gone to 2nd prints.

35, East of West, 1*, $3.50, Image, 49,518

193, East of West, 1 2nd printing $3.50, Image, 9,742

296, East of West, 1 3rd printing, $3.50, Image, 5,024

46, East of West, 2*, $3.50, Image, 41,838

54, East of West, 3*, $3.50, Image, 39,441

#9 HAWKEYE #1-10 The hottest back issue current Marvel title with all issues in multiple printings. #1 and #2 each now settled at about $25.00. Every issue has been reprinted – #1 and #2 on 5th printings. New issues still sell out. It is rare to find a series that issue #10 has a higher print run still than #1.

#10 SAGA #1-12 #1 still super hot at about $80 down from peak of $100 – all issues in demand even with high print runs. #12 was hot for a moment when banned by Apple. Print runs have gone up the last 5 issues in a row. #12 has a much larger print run than #1. After The Walking Dead sensation Saga is always Image’s best selling title.

#11 BALLISTIC #1 (BLACK MASK 2013) New mini series – #1 sold out instantly and hit high prices of $12.00 in first week of release.

#12 NOWHERE MEN (Image) #1-3 prices had peaked at $40,25,15 in March. Set of #1-5 now sells for $60.00 #1 $30 / #2 $20 / #3 $10 / #4 $3 / #5 $3. Note the print run increases for #4 and then #5. #1 already has a 5th printing – with so many reprints of all issues on the market its hard to sell the reprints at any price currently.

172 Nowhere Men 1 $2.99 Image 11815 2012 11

213 Nowhere Men 2 $2.99 Image 7368 2012 12

209, Nowhere Men, 3, $2.99, Image, 7,421

150, Nowhere Men, 4, $2.99, Image, 13,368

141,Nowhere Men, 5, $2.99, Image, 15,608

#13 DAREDEVIL #1-4 (Marvel 2011) Early issues sold out and on average $10.00 each !

#14 BATMAN #1 5 7 9 – sold out issues averaging $20-$30 each and #1 sells for $50.00. Complete sets of #1-10 bring $150.00. Batman is the #1 selling regular monthly comic book these days and it is the most valuable “complete set” of all current titles.

#15 THINK TANK (Image) #1-5. #1 sold out immediately and no one seems to have a copy. 2nd printings are more common. #1 1st in the $15-20 range. News of a new movie broke this week which might push prices up.

#16 UBER #0-1-2-3 Sold out printings instantly. Originaly I felt this title was being speculated on too heavily but many sales above cover have proven the demand for this series. I personally believe this is the single best looking comic of 2013 with glossy paper and amazing colors and artwork. Some amazing variant covers make it a big job to collect every cover version of each issue. The first issue was #0 and not #1. #0 is the rare ones to find. #0 has a 2nd printing called “enhanced edition”. Print runs on each individual cover are very low. There are 4 regular covers of each issue so when you take the worldwide print runs you have to divide it by 4 to get the real print run of each cover. This makes it more obvious how rare each individual cover is. In fact there are only about 2,700 copies of each cover of the first issue #0. Diamond monthly rankings for each issue and the combined print run of all the covers

178, Uber, 0, $3.99, Avatar, 10,849

292, Uber, 0 Enhanced Ed, $4.99, Avatar, 5,084

137, Uber, 1, $3.99, Avatar, 16,109

132. Uber, 2, $3.99, Avatar, 16,160

#17 THE SIXTH GUN (Oni) – All 31 issues sold out – many not even on ebay and low print runs. Sold a #1 for $250 in Mid April. #1 now at $90.00. Prices have dropped by about 70% since their peak from April 2013 when the news of the potential TV show was at its highest hype. Still some of the rarest comics to collect will keep prices and sales up on this title. The image speculating boom peaked by April 2013 and orders were raised drastically on issues #30-32 which were the highest since issue #2 three years earlier.

#28 POLARITY #1-4 Mini-series. Extremely well reviewed caused a sellout on this small print run title written by a rock musician from Say Anything. Small print run instantly to a 2nd printing. #1 sells for $10

225, Polarity, 1, $3.99, Boom, 7,459

250, Polarity, 2, $3.99, Boom, 6,957

247, Polarity, 3, $3.99, Boom, 6,436

#29 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (Marvel 2008) Entire run is super hot due to interest in upcoming movie. #1 hit high of $75 a month ago and now settled closer to $25 however all non-key issues bring anywhere from $5 to $15 each.

#30 GAMBIT (Marvel 2012) New ongoing series popular #1 $8 #2 $5 but #3 sold out everywhere and current asking price from only online copy is $50.00 !!

#31 ADVENTURE TIME – animated cartoon series – numerous printings now. #1 is truly rare – no sellers on ebay even have a copy for sale. $50 to $100 per copy of #1 first print. #2 currently in the $20-30 range. #3 $10. #1-6 have been reprinted with connecting cover image. #1-6 and #9-10 sold out from diamond.

#32 RACHEL RISING (Abstract) #1-16 TV announcement this week helped drive demand up as Diamond sold out of even the current issue not yet out this week. #1 hitting $200.00 peak around May 1st. Many issues still available direct from publisher website at cover. #1 settled down now to about $50.00. Sellers hyping rarity of 2nd and 3rd printings and getting high amounts as well.

#41 NUMBERCRUNCHER #1 (TITAN 2013) New miniseries from small publisher sold out instantly – nobody has copies for sale.

#42 SPAWN #9 (Image 1993) 20 year old comic features 1st appearance of Angela by Neil Gaiman which enters the Marvel Universe this week in Age Of Ultron #10. Common book prices are anywhere from $2 to $100 a copy

#43 BATMAN INCORPORATED (DC) #8 Death of Robin hit about $13 now settled at $5.99

29, Batman Incorporated, 8, $2.99, DC, 55,414

69, Batman Incorporated, 8, 2nd printing $2.99, DC, 34,679

#44 MANHATTAN PROJECTS (Image) #1-10 All issues sell well but way down from Jan peaks #1 was at $90 now at $30. Title is steady sales as print run of #12 is about the same as #1.

#45 THE BOUNCE (IMAGE) Creator owned superhero title from last month actually sold out some places and some dealers marked up slightly.

#46 NUMBER 13 (DARK HORSE 2013) Mini series #0 1 2 3. #0 is reprints of early appearances in Dark Horse Presents. #0 commands the most money. Large print runs on other issues but a teaser trailer came out in July causing interest in a potential future movie.

#47 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #2-6 (DARK HORSE 2011) Anthology with original first appearances of Number 13 later reprinted in Number 13 #0 a year later.

#48 SKYWARD #1 (2013) New series from small publisher sold out instantly and some sellers asking above cover.

#49 PROPHET #21 (IMAGE 2012) Sold out immediately in early 2012 – hot issue at $15.00

#59 FABLES (DC/Vertigo) Long running ongoing series recently announced of potential tv/movie so already expensive #1 selling out at bout $70.00 first printings. Series has over 120 issues so lots to collect.

#78 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 (MARVEL 2009) Had already sold out but then began the new death of Peter Parker storyline.

#79 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1-10 every issue seems to sell out at retail and gets a 2nd printing but not going up in value due to large print runs. Peter Parker ghost gone in #9 – series might last longer than originally expected. Readers very happy with this series.

#80 SEX #1-3 (Image) Lots of demand for #1 in pre-sale but has cooled down. #1-2 sell for $8.99 as set.

#81 MASS PROJECT / FABULOUS KILLROYS FCBD – 1st appearance of Killroys based on the My Chemical Romance rock band characters hit a high of $33.00 the week of release of the free comic. New ongoing series starts in June. Market now flooded doesnt sell for $3.00

#82 DREAM MERCHANT #1 (IMAGE) New miniseries sold out quickly.

#83 FATALE (Image) #1-10 Only #1 has a high price tag – has cooled at $20

#84 LIFE WITH ARCHIE #16 Marriage of gay male Kevin Keller in oversized comic. Instant sellout in 2012 and still at $15.00

297 Life With Archie 16 $3.99 Archie 2802 2012 1

#85 POWERS BUREAU (MARVEL) 2013 – interestingly this is a poor seller for Marvel but due to that the print run is so bad that copies have sold out and gone to second printing make some collect 1st print runs of this series above cover.

#86 BATGIRL #1 (DC 2011) 1st print sold out title re-start $8.00

#87 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1 (DC 2011) 1st print sold out title re-start $6.00

#88 THE TEST #1 One shot doing well in the $10-20 range in first week of hype. This one did not even chart Top 300 low sales

#89 PILOT SEASON DECLASSIFIED #1 One shot featuring The Test also doing well in the $10-20 range in first week of hype

292 Pilot Season Declassified 2011 One Shot $1.00 Image 3462 2011 9

#90 OCCUPY COMICS #1 (Black Mask) #1 sold out issue based on the writings and thoughts of top comic industry people small print run on a issue dealing with the Occupy Wall Street theme.

#91 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #13 (DC) Batman Death in the Family storyline die-cut cover

#92 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (MARVEL 2013) New ongoing series – new movie in the works for next year. Early issues #0.1, 1, 2 had very high print runs and then retailers pulled back. Issues #3 and #4 instantly sold out and both have 2nd printings.

#93 DOCTOR WHO PRISONER OF TIME #1-4 First issues sold out and I did sell some #1′s above guide but some sellers still selling them at cover. Variant covers sell really well on ebay when initially released!

#98 FCBD – 52 different comics were given away on May 4th 2013 for free comic book day. A lot of high prices realized the week of release. All prices have now cooled but due to not being shelved properly random various issues sell well at different times.

#99 ALPHA BIG TIME #0.1 (Marvel 2013) Debut issue is a reprint but debuted before #1 and is now sold out and features Spider-man. Future potential !

Thanks to John Jackson Miller at www.comichron.com for the initial Diamond sales figures data

You can see complete monthly Diamond sales chart data and more stats at his site !

I am always happy to hear your comments and thoughts/criticisms on any of my posts.

Terry Hoknes (author) of Hoknes Comics loves analyzing statistics and watching the growth and fall of comic titles over a period of time. He sells all of the latest hot back issue secondary market new comics and all new Diamond products at www.HoknesComics.com and also self-publishes a series of books called “Investing In Comic Books” that focus on the Golden, Silver and Bronze ages of comics. hoknes@hotmail.com

Top 100 Hottest Comic Titles and recent Back Issues during EARLY JULY 2013 – list by Terry Hoknes of HoknesComics.com

This list is updated every 2 weeks. This list is compiled from my non-stop research of the current market. I believe these were the most demand and growing in value books this month. I did not focus on variants specifically as I can’t even keep track of them all. If you think I have missed any hot titles/issues of the last 5 years please let me know. Sales were at a very weak point during late May and all of June but July sales have already started to pick up on many titles. Here are my picks of what I believe are the hottest comics at this very moment from all sold releases of the last few years online based on back issue sales ABOVE cover price.

#1 THE LAST OF US (DARK HORSE) – 4 issue mini-series all issues instant sellouts and tie-in to video game. All issues are sold out and Diamond has sold out of #4 a month before its release. Currently all 3 1st print issues are selling for on average $23.00 EACH ! #3 hit a high of $41.00 the week of release. Print runs of all 4 issues are very low. Complete set of 4 issues hit high of $160.00 in early July. I sold a few sets at $100.00. Only #1 has had a reprint and that 2nd printing might be so rare that it did not chart which means likely a print run of less than 3,000 copies. Reprints were scheduled by Dark Horse for #1-3 but they cancelled at the last minute likely to help boost sales of the upcoming graphic novel.

Last of Us American Dreams, 1, $3.99, Dark Horse, 6,012

Last of Us American Dreams, 2, $3.99, Dark Horse, 4,991

Last of Us American Dreams, 3, $3.99, Dark Horse, 5,014

#2 TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH (Image) #1 hit high of $20 immediately in January week of release and then settled down. Smaller print run. Mini-series #1-4 is sold out and will become ongoing soon from Image with #5 coming out in a month. News of a new tv/movie reported on July 13th made the #1 a super hot comic instantly with sales as high as $40.00 each and sets hitting record highs. #1 and #2 have a 2nd print which are both rarer typically in print run than the originals.

197, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth, 1, $2.99, Image, 7,879

240, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth, 2, $2.99, Image, 6,177

224, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth, 3, $2.99, Image, 7,140

230, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth, 4, $2.99, Image, 7,113

#3 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US (DC) – the hottest DC title of 2013 with small print runs and 3rd prints selling out. Peaked in May at $85.00 for set of #1-4 Many sellers with reprint sets that also sell well. #1 2nd printing hit $12.00 #1 $40 #2 $25 #3 $8 #4 $5 #5-6 $4. I predicted this could be a hit when I saw the initial print run numbers so low and yet featuring major characters Batman, Joker, Superman, Wonder Woman etc.

96, Injustice Gods Among Us, 1, $3.99, DC, 20,733

120, Injustice Gods Among Us, 2, $3.99, DC, 17,068

118, Injustice Gods Among Us, 3, $3.99, DC, 18,068

98, Injustice Gods Among Us, 4, $3.99, DC, 21,669

89, Injustice Gods Among Us, 5, $3.99, DC, 25,215

83, Injustice Gods Among Us, 6, $3.99, DC, 26,011.

#4 PETER PANZERFAUST (Image) #1-9 prices peaked in March. #8 and #9 really hot but less demand for #4-6. One season of the TV series seems guaranteed. #1 hit high of $300 now around $200.00 Current prices #2 $60 / #3 $20 / #4-7 $10 each / #8 $20 / #9 $20. Print runs for #6 7 8 were so low they did not even chart during the month. Note the print run increaes for #10 and then #11.

#5 THE WALKING DEAD (Image) #108 1st app Ezekiel and #110 origin and battle of Ezekiel with Michonne. All back issues #1-110 are sold out and bring above cover prices. #92 and #93 extremely hot at $30.00 each. Retailers upped their orders yet again starting with #109 onwards after the sellout of #108. This is the highest print runs have ever been (not counting #100).

#6 NOWHERE MEN (Image) #1-3 prices had peaked at $40,25,15 in March. Set of #1-5 now sells for $60.00 #1 $30 / #2 $20 / #3 $10 / #4 $3 / #5 $3. Note the print run increases for #4 and then #5. #1 already has a 5th printing – with so many reprints of all issues on the market its hard to sell the reprints at any price currently.

172 Nowhere Men 1 $2.99 Image 11815 2012 11

213 Nowhere Men 2 $2.99 Image 7368 2012 12

209, Nowhere Men, 3, $2.99, Image, 7,421

150, Nowhere Men, 4, $2.99, Image, 13,368

141,Nowhere Men, 5, $2.99, Image, 15,608

#7 EAST OF WEST (Image) #1 Hot as a pre-seller and has stabilized at $7.00. 4th printing already and sets of #1-4 sell really well. This is a rare modern example of a comic with a huge print run that still sells out due to popularity and goes to reprints on every issue. It’s the “2013” version of Saga in terms of popularity.

35, East of West, 1*, $3.50, Image, 49,518

193, East of West, 1 2nd printing $3.50, Image, 9,742

296, East of West, 1 3rd printing, $3.50, Image, 5,024

46, East of West, 2*, $3.50, Image, 41,838

54, East of West, 3*, $3.50, Image, 39,441

#8 HAWKEYE #1-10 The hottest back issue current Marvel title with all issues in multiple printings. #1 and #2 each now settled at about $25.00. Every issue has been reprinted – #1 and #2 on 5th printings. New issues still sell out. It is rare to find a series that issue #10 has a higher print run still than #1.

#9 SAGA #1-12 #1 still super hot at about $80 down from peak of $100 – all issues in demand even with high print runs. #12 was hot for a moment when banned by Apple. Print runs have gone up the last 5 issues in a row. #12 has a much larger print run than #1. After The Walking Dead sensation Saga is always Image’s best selling title.

#10 UBER #0-1-2-3 Sold out printings instantly. Originaly I felt this title was being speculated on too heavily but many sales above cover have proven the demand for this series. I personally believe this is the single best looking comic of 2013 with glossy paper and amazing colors and artwork. Some amazing variant covers make it a big job to collect every cover version of each issue. The first issue was #0 and not #1. #0 is the rare ones to find. #0 has a 2nd printing called “enhanced edition”. Print runs on each individual cover are very low. There are 4 regular covers of each issue so when you take the worldwide print runs you have to divide it by 4 to get the real print run of each cover. This makes it more obvious how rare each individual cover is. In fact there are only about 2,700 copies of each cover of the first issue #0. Diamond monthly rankings for each issue and the combined print run of all the covers

178, Uber, 0, $3.99, Avatar, 10,849

292, Uber, 0 Enhanced Ed, $4.99, Avatar, 5,084

137, Uber, 1, $3.99, Avatar, 16,109

132. Uber, 2, $3.99, Avatar, 16,160

#11 THE SIXTH GUN (Oni) – All 31 issues sold out – many not even on ebay and low print runs. Sold a #1 for $250 in Mid April. #1 now at $90.00. Prices have dropped by about 70% since their peak from April 2013 when the news of the potential TV show was at its highest hype. Still some of the rarest comics to collect will keep prices and sales up on this title. The image speculating boom peaked by April 2013 and orders were raised drastically on issues #30-32 which were the highest since issue #2 three years earlier.

#12 BATMAN #1 5 7 9 – sold out issues averaging $20-$30 each and #1 sells for $50.00. Complete sets of #1-10 bring $150.00. Batman is the #1 selling regular monthly comic book these days and it is the most valuable “complete set” of all current titles.

#13 SIX GUN GORILLA (BOOM) New on the list. New #1 issue of mini-series based on golden age character quickly sold out and selling at $10.00 within a week of release.

227, Six GunGorilla, 1, $3.99, Boom, 7,730

#14 POLARITY #1-4 Mini-series. Extremely well reviewed caused a sellout on this small print run title written by a rock musician from Say Anything. Small print run instantly to a 2nd printing. #1 sells for $10

225, Polarity, 1, $3.99, Boom, 7,459

250, Polarity, 2, $3.99, Boom, 6,957

247, Polarity, 3, $3.99, Boom, 6,436

#15 THIEF OF THIEVES #1-12 Early issues still super hot – value peaked in January but still selling well

#17 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (Marvel 2008) Entire run is super hot due to interest in upcoming movie. #1 hit high of $75 a month ago and now settled closer to $25 however all non-key issues bring anywhere from $5 to $15 each.

#18 GAMBIT (Marvel 2012) New ongoing series popular #1 $8 #2 $5 but #3 sold out everywhere and current asking price from only online copy is $50.00 !!

#19 ADVENTURE TIME – animated cartoon series – numerous printings now. #1 is truly rare – no sellers on ebay even have a copy for sale. $50 to $100 per copy of #1 first print. #2 currently in the $20-30 range. #3 $10. #1-6 have been reprinted with connecting cover image. #1-6 and #9-10 sold out from diamond.

#20 RACHEL RISING (Abstract) #1-16 TV announcement this week helped drive demand up as Diamond sold out of even the current issue not yet out this week. #1 hitting $200.00 peak around May 1st. Many issues still available direct from publisher website at cover. #1 settled down now to about $50.00. Sellers hyping rarity of 2nd and 3rd printings and getting high amounts as well.

#22 THINK TANK (Image) #1-5. #1 sold out immediately and no one seems to have a copy. 2nd printings are more common. #1 1st in the $15-20 range. News of a new movie broke this week which might push prices up.

#33 FIVE GHOSTS – HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY (Image) Mini series #1 and #2 sold out and 2nd printings – rumour of ongoing series. #1 at $7.00

152, Five Ghosts Haunting of Fabian Gray, 1, $3.50, Image, 13,163

152, Five Ghosts Haunting of Fabian Gray, 2, $2.99, Image, 13,127

162, Five Ghosts Haunting of Fabian Gray, 3, $2.99, Image, 13,153

175, Five Ghosts Haunting of Fabian Gray, 4, $2.99, Image, 11,357

#34 SPAWN #9 (Image 1993) 20 year old comic features 1st appearance of Angela by Neil Gaiman which enters the Marvel Universe this week in Age Of Ultron #10. Common book prices are anywhere from $2 to $100 a copy

#35 DAREDEVIL #1-4 (Marvel 2011) Early issues sold out and on average $10.00 each !

#46 FABLES (DC/Vertigo) Long running ongoing series recently announced of potential tv/movie so already expensive #1 selling out at bout $70.00 first printings. Series has over 120 issues so lots to collect.

#47 LOCKE AND KEY (2008) Talk of a new movie based on this already hot comic from 2008.

#63 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 (MARVEL 2009) Had already sold out but then began the new death of Peter Parker storyline.

#64 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1-10 every issue seems to sell out at retail and gets a 2nd printing but not going up in value due to large print runs. Peter Parker ghost gone in #9 – series might last longer than originally expected. Readers very happy with this series.

#65 SEX #1-3 (Image) Lots of demand for #1 in pre-sale but has cooled down. #1-2 sell for $8.99 as set.

#66 MASS PROJECT / FABULOUS KILLROYS FCBD – 1st appearance of Killroys based on the My Chemical Romance rock band characters hit a high of $33.00 the week of release of the free comic. New ongoing series starts in June. Market now flooded doesnt sell for $3.00

#67 DREAM MERCHANT #1 (IMAGE) New miniseries sold out quickly.

#68 FATALE (Image) #1-10 Only #1 has a high price tag – has cooled at $20

#69 LIFE WITH ARCHIE #16 Marriage of gay male Kevin Keller in oversized comic. Instant sellout in 2012 and still at $15.00

297 Life With Archie 16 $3.99 Archie 2802 2012 1

#70 POWERS BUREAU (MARVEL) 2013 – interestingly this is a poor seller for Marvel but due to that the print run is so bad that copies have sold out and gone to second printing make some collect 1st print runs of this series above cover.

#71 BATGIRL #1 (DC 2011) 1st print sold out title re-start $8.00

#72 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1 (DC 2011) 1st print sold out title re-start $6.00

#73 THE TEST #1 One shot doing well in the $10-20 range in first week of hype. This one did not even chart Top 300 low sales

#74 PILOT SEASON DECLASSIFIED #1 One shot featuring The Test also doing well in the $10-20 range in first week of hype

292 Pilot Season Declassified 2011 One Shot $1.00 Image 3462 2011 9

#75 OCCUPY COMICS #1 (Black Mask) #1 sold out issue based on the writings and thoughts of top comic industry people small print run on a issue dealing with the Occupy Wall Street theme.

#76 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #13 (DC) Batman Death in the Family storyline die-cut cover

#77 CLONE (IMAGE 2012) Just today on July 15th 2013 it was announced that it is possible a new tv/movie is in the works based on this comic. Prices have not yet gone up but demand and hype is growing as the cheapest copies online were getting bought up today.

#78 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (MARVEL 2013) New ongoing series – new movie in the works for next year. Early issues #0.1, 1, 2 had very high print runs and then retailers pulled back. Issues #3 and #4 instantly sold out and both have 2nd printings.

#79 DEVIL MAY CRY – THE CHRONICLES OF VERGIL #1 (Titan) Sold out and up in value with some retailers

#80 REGULAR SHOW #1 many variant covers sold out even with higher print run. Box edition of #1 covers still currently available at Diamond.

#81 ARCHIE (Archie) #641-644 4 part series with Glee TV Show cast guest appears – small print runs and tv show tie-in with movie stars

#83 FCBD – 52 different comics were given away on May 4th 2013 for free comic book day. A lot of high prices realized the week of release. All prices have now cooled but due to not being shelved properly random various issues sell well at different times.

#84 ALPHA BIG TIME #0.1 (Marvel 2013) Debut issue is a reprint but debuted before #1 and is now sold out and features Spider-man. Future potential !

#94 HELL YEAH (IMAGE 2012) #1 sold out has dropped back to cover price

#95 SUPERBIA (IMAGE 2012) #1 has dropped back to cover price.

#96 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #1-7 issues were much hotter and way above cover in 2012. Prices have dropped down.

#97 DOCTOR WHO PRISONER OF TIME #1-4 First issues sold out and I did sell some #1′s above guide but some sellers still selling them at cover. Variant covers sell really well on ebay when initially released!

Thanks to John Jackson Miller at www.comichron.com for the initial Diamond sales figures data

You can see complete monthly Diamond sales chart data and more stats at his site !

I am always happy to hear your comments and thoughts/criticisms on any of my posts.

Terry Hoknes (author) of Hoknes Comics loves analyzing statistics and watching the growth and fall of comic titles over a period of time. He sells all of the latest hot back issue secondary market new comics and all new Diamond products at www.HoknesComics.com and also self-publishes a series of books called “Investing In Comic Books” that focus on the Golden, Silver and Bronze ages of comics. hoknes@hotmail.com

Diamond Distributors usually keeps some extra stock of all ongoing IMAGE titles available for retailers. This usually means in most cases you can go back at least the last 4 issues and can still order copies of any issue. Only surprise sell out books will completely vanish from inventory which may lead to 2nd printings for some books. This is not very common for Image. However its very common for Marvel.

Image has seen a boom in interest in their new series during the past 2 years. Hotter new titles sell out immediately and in many cases even before the actual release date of a new #1 issue.

I have personally looked up every single Image Comic that Diamond currently has in stock.

This list includes all 38 ongoing titles as of August 2013 release date.

The list below is the exact list of all available comics (1st printings only) that you can STILL GET your local comic shop to order for you.

This list is also interesting because it shows which titles continually sell out each month.

If you are a speculator there are two things that have to happen for a comic to go up in value.

First of all Diamond needs to sell out, secondly most local comic shops need to sell out.

Therefore this list showing us what books have officially sold at Diamond will give you an idea of what books to hunt for.

Just selling out is still not a guarantee that a comic will go up in value. BUT it MUST sell out if it will have any chance of going up in value in the future. So far the most marked up back issues sold out that came out this year include Nowhere Men, Peter Panzerfaust, East Of West, Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth issues.

Thanks to Diamond Comics database for the most accurate details below.

I am always happy to hear your comments and thoughts/criticisms on any of my posts.

Terry Hoknes (author) of Hoknes Comics loves analyzing statistics and watching the growth and fall of comic titles over a period of time. He sells all of the latest hot back issue secondary market new comics at www.HoknesComics.com and also self-publishes a series of books called “Investing In Comic Books” that focus on the Golden, Silver and Bronze ages of comics. hoknes@hotmail.com

Top 100 Hottest Comic Titles and recent Back Issues during LATE JUNE 2013 – list by Terry Hoknes of HoknesComics.com

This list is updated every 2 weeks. This list is compiled from my non-stop research of the current market. I believe these were the most demand and growing in value books this month. I did not focus on variants specifically as I can’t even keep track of them all. If you think I have missed any titles please let me know. Online sales are really slow right now and hopefully this is the worst point as the school season is over and nice weather has arrived. Summer is here and there is really no major changes in the industry for hot titles. What we see is mostly a continuation of interest in the same books but mostly at a reduced price yet again. I expect this will stay true all summer but the big question is will prices and interest pick up again for these books in the fall. Some fear the speculation boom of 2012/2013 has peaked and is now over. It is possible however there will always be certain books that go up in value in any time period simply based on supply and demand. Here are my picks of what I believe are the hottest comics at this very moment from all sold releases of the last few years online based on back issue sales ABOVE cover price.

#1 THE LAST OF US (DARK HORSE) – 4 issue mini-series all issues instant sellouts and tie-in to video game. All issues are sold out and Diamond has sold out of #4 a month before its release. Currently all 3 1st print issues are selling for on average $23.00 EACH ! The top two hottest comic titles on this list are both based on video games!

#2 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US (DC) – the only hot DC title small print runs and 3rd prints selling out. Peaked in May at $85.00 for set of #1-4 Many sellers with reprint sets that also sell well. #1 2nd printing hit $12.00 #1 $40 #2 $25 #3 $8 #4 $5 #5 $4

#3 PETER PANZERFAUST (Image) #1-9 prices peaked in March. #8 and #9 really hot but less demand for #4-6. One season of the TV series seems guaranteed. #1 hit high of $300 now around $200.00 Current prices #2 $60 / #3 $20 / #4-7 $10 each / #8 $20 / #9 $20

#4 THE WALKING DEAD (Image) #108 1st app Ezekiel and #110 origin and battle of Ezekiel with Michonne. All back issues #1-110 are sold out and bring above cover prices. #92 and #93 extremely hot at $30.00 each. Retailers upped their orders yet again starting with #109 onwards after the sellout of #108. This is the highest print runs have ever been (not counting #100).

#6 THE SIXTH GUN (Oni) – all 29 issues sold out – many not even on ebay and low print runs. sold a #1 for $250 in Mid April. #1 now at $90.00

#7 EAST OF WEST (Image) #1 Hot as a pre-seller and has stabilized at $7.00. 4th printing already and sets of #1-2 sell well.

#8 POLARITY #1-2 Small print run instantly to a 2nd printing. #1 sells for $10

#9 SIX GUN GORILLA (BOOM) New on the list. New #1 issue of mini-series based on golden age character quickly sold out and selling at $10.00 within a week of release.

#10 SAGA #1-12 #1 still super hot at about $80 down from peak of $100 – all issues in demand even with high print runs. #12 was hot for a moment when banned by Apple.

#11 BATMAN #1 5 7 9 – sold out issues averaging $20.00 each and #1 sells for $50.00. Complete sets of #1-10 bring $150.00. Batman is the #1 selling regular monthly comic book these days and it is the most valuable “complete set” of all current titles.

#12 HAWKEYE #1-10 The only hot back issue Marvel title with all issues in multiple printings. #1 now settled at about $25.00. Almost every issue has been reprinted. New issues still sell out.

#14 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (Marvel 2008) Entire run is super hot due to interest in upcoming movie. #1 hit high of $75 a month ago and now settled closer to $25 however all non-key issues bring anywhere from $5 to $15 each.

#15 GAMBIT (Marvel 2012) New ongoing series popular #1 $8 #2 $5 but #3 sold out everywhere and current asking price from only online copy is $50.00 !!

#16 ADVENTURE TIME – animated cartoon series – numerous printings now. #1 is truly rare – no sellers on ebay even have a copy for sale. $50 to $100 per copy of #1 first print. #2 currently in the $20-30 range. #3 $10. #1-6 have been reprinted with connecting cover image. #1-6 and #9-10 sold out from diamond.

#17 RACHEL RISING (Abstract) #1-16 TV announcement this week helped drive demand up as Diamond sold out of even the current issue not yet out this week. #1 hitting $200.00 peak around May 1st. Many issues still available direct from publisher website at cover. #1 settled down now to about $70.00. Sellers hyping rarity of 2nd and 3rd printings and getting high amounts as well.

#18 BATGIRL #13 – death of family storyline – these sold out and huge price increases in some areas up to $30

#19 BATMAN #13 / death of family storyline – these sold out and huge price increases in some areas up to $40

#20 THIEF OF THIEVES #1-12 Early issues still super hot – value peaked in January but still selling well

#21 REVIVAL (Image) #1-10 Early issues still hot but definitely cooled in value from Jan/Feb peak of #1 $45.00

#22 THINK TANK (Image) #1-5. #1 sold out immediately and no one seems to have a copy. 2nd printings are more common. #1 1st in the $15-20 range. News of a new movie broke this week which might push prices up.

#24 HOAX HUNTERS (Image) this title was cover price material until a TV show proposal shot prices way up on all issues. #0 and #1 are extremely hot and hit $30 each.

#25 UBER #0-1-2 Sold out both printings instantly. Future is unpredictable – more speculators than readers bought this. Some amazing variant covers make it a big job to collect every cover version of each issue. Almost all copies and printings are $8 or higher. #0 has a 2nd printing called “enhanced edition”.

#26 MIND MGMT (Dark Horse) #1-10 #1 is really the only valuable issue at $40 but easy to sell sets at $80. Very low print run.

#27 FIVE GHOSTS – HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY (Image) Mini series #1 and #2 sold out and 2nd printings – rumour of ongoing series. #1 at $7.00

#28 SPAWN #9 (Image 1993) 20 year old comic features 1st appearance of Angela by Neil Gaiman which enters the Marvel Universe this week in Age Of Ultron #10. Common book prices are anywhere from $2 to $100 a copy

#29 DAREDEVIL #1-4 (Marvel 2011) Early issues sold out and on average $10.00 each !

#30 BATMAN INCORPORATED (DC) #8 Death of Robin hit about $13 now settled at $5.99

#31 MANHATTAN PROJECTS (Image) #1-10 All issues sell well but way down from Jan peaks #1 was at $90 now at $30

#32 PROPHET #21 (IMAGE 2012) Sold out immediately in early 2012 – hot issue at $15.00

#33 NONPLAYERS #1 (IMAGE 2011) Only 1 issue came out but it sold out before release – still rare $25.00

#39 CATWOMAN #13 / death of family storyline – these sold out and huge price increases in some areas up to $15

#40 MORNING GLORIES – early issues sold out and popular back issues.

#41 FABLES (DC/Vertigo) Long running ongoing series recently announced of potential tv/movie so already expensive #1 selling out at bout $50.00 first printings. Series has over 120 issues so lots to collect.

#42 LOCKE AND KEY (2008) Talk of a new movie based on this already hot comic from 2008.

#58 DAREDEVIL #21 & #22 (Marvel) sold out early Death of Peter Parker storyline – sales peaked in Jan 2013

#59 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (Marvel) 698-700 Death of Peter Parker storyline super hot in January – still popular due to storyline continuing in Superior-Spiderman

#60 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 (MARVEL 2009) Had already sold out but then began the new death of Peter Parker storyline.

#61 TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH (Image) #1 hit high of $20 immediately and then settled down. Smaller print run. Mini-series #1-4 is sold out and will become ongoing soon from Image.

#62 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1-10 every issue seems to sell out at retail and gets a 2nd printing but not going up in value due to large print runs. Peter Parker ghost gone in #9 – series might last longer than originally expected. Readers very happy with this series.

#63 SEX #1-3 (Image) Lots of demand for #1 in pre-sale but has cooled down. #1-2 sell for $8.99 as set.

#64 MASS PROJECT / FABULOUS KILLROYS FCBD – 1st appearance of Killroys based on the My Chemical Romance rock band characters hit a high of $33.00 the week of release of the free comic. New ongoing series starts in June. Market now flooded doesnt sell for $3.00

#65 LAZARUS #1 (IMAGE 2013) New ongoing series #1 first print sold out instantly late June 2013. Some asking above cover.

#66 DREAM MERCHANT #1 (IMAGE) New miniseries sold out quickly.

#67 FATALE (Image) #1-10 Only #1 has a high price tag – has cooled at $20

#68 LIFE WITH ARCHIE #16 Marriage of gay male Kevin Keller in oversized comic. Instant sellout in 2012 and still at $15.00

#69 POWERS BUREAU (MARVEL) 2013 – interestingly this is a poor seller for Marvel but due to that the print run is so bad that copies have sold out and gone to second printing make some collect 1st print runs of this series above cover.

#70 BATGIRL #1 (DC 2011) 1st print sold out title re-start $8.00

#71 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1 (DC 2011) 1st print sold out title re-start $6.00

#72 TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #1-3 #1 peaked at $17 immediately but now sells for about $7. Sets still sell

#73 THE TEST #1 One shot doing well in the $10-20 range in first week of hype. This one did not even chart Top 300 low sales

#74 PILOT SEASON DECLASSIFIED #1 One shot featuring The Test also doing well in the $10-20 range in first week of hype

#75 OCCUPY COMICS #1 (Black Mask) #1 sold out issue based on the writings and thoughts of top comic industry people small print run on a issue dealing with the Occupy Wall Street theme.

#76 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #13 (DC) Batman Death in the Family storyline die-cut cover

#77 EXTINCTION PARADE (Avatar) This comic actually ships next week brand new but online pre-sales were doing well above cover.

#78 DEVIL MAY CRY – THE CHRONICLES OF VERGIL #1 (Titan) Sold out and up in value with some retailers

#79 REGULAR SHOW #1 many variant covers sold out even with higher print run. Box edition of #1 covers still currently available at Diamond.

#80 ARCHIE (Archie) #641-644 4 part series with Glee TV Show cast guest appears – small print runs and tv show tie-in with movie stars

#82 FCBD – 52 different comics were given away on May 4th 2013 for free comic book day. A lot of high prices realized the week of release. All prices have now cooled but due to not being shelved properly random various issues sell well at different times.

#83 ALPHA BIG TIME #0.1 (Marvel 2013) Debut issue is a reprint but debuted before #1 and is now sold out and features Spider-man. Future potential !

#93 HELL YEAH (IMAGE 2012) #1 sold out has dropped back to cover price

#94 SUPERBIA (IMAGE 2012) #1 has dropped back to cover price.

#95 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #1-7 issues were much hotter and way above cover in 2012. Prices have dropped down.

#96 DOCTOR WHO PRISONER OF TIME #1-4 First issues sold out and I did sell some #1′s above guide but some sellers still selling them at cover. Variant covers sell really well on ebay when initially released!

Thanks to John Jackson Miller at www.comichron.com for the initial Diamond sales figures data

You can see complete monthly Diamond sales chart data and more stats at his site !

I am always happy to hear your comments and thoughts/criticisms on any of my posts.

Terry Hoknes (author) of Hoknes Comics loves analyzing statistics and watching the growth and fall of comic titles over a period of time. He sells all of the latest hot back issue secondary market new comics and all new Diamond products at www.HoknesComics.com and also self-publishes a series of books called “Investing In Comic Books” that focus on the Golden, Silver and Bronze ages of comics. hoknes@hotmail.com

Top 50 Hottest Comic Titles during MAY 2013 – list by Terry Hoknes of HoknesComics.com

Just a personal list from my own observations of the market. I believe these were the most demand and growing in value books this month. I did not focus on variants specifically as I can’t even keep track of them all. If you think I have missed any titles please let me know. I will revise this list every month and you will be amazed at how much can change in one month good and bad.

The big news of the past month is that NBC announced they would not turn THE SIXTH GUN into a tv series. This led to 50% drops in value for all issues and as spring kicked in there were many less buyers online causing an overall drop in price of all “hot” comics.

So May doesn’t really have any truly NEW hot books. What we see is mostly a continuation of interest in the same books but mostly at a reduced price. I expect this will stay true for the next 5 months but the big question is will prices and interest pick up again for these books in the fall. Some fear the speculation boom of 2012/2013 has peaked and is now over. It is possible however there will always be certain books that go up in value in any time period simply based on supply and demand.

Here are my picks of what I believe are the hottest comics of the last few years online based on back issue sales ABOVE cover price.

#1 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US (DC) – the only hot DC title small print runs and 3rd prints selling out. Currently at its hottest right now at $85.00 for set of #1-4 Many sellers with reprint sets that also sell well. #1 2nd printing hit $12.00 #1 $50 #2 $25 #3 $10

#2 RACHEL RISING (Abstract) #1-16 TV announcement this week helped drive demand up as Diamond sold out of even the current issue not yet out this week. #1 hitting $200.00 peak around May 1st. Many issues still available direct from publisher website at cover. #1 settled down now to about $80.00. Sellers hyping rarity of 2nd and 3rd printings and getting high amounts as well.

#3 THE WALKING DEAD (Image) #108 1st app Ezekiel and #110 origin and battle of Ezekiel with Michonne. All back issues #1-110 are sold out and bring above cover prices. #92 and #93 extremely hot at $30.00 each

#5 NOWHERE MEN (Image) #1-3 prices had peaked at $40,25,15 in March. Set of #1-5 now sells for $60.00

#6 HOAX HUNTERS (Image) this title was cover price material until a TV show proposal shot prices way up on all issues. #0 and #1 are extremely hot and hit $30 each.

#7 THE SIXTH GUN (Oni) – all 29 issues sold out – many not even on ebay and low print runs. sold a #1 for $250 in Mid April. Most recently I sold a #1 for $90.00

#8 EAST OF WEST (Image) #1 Hot as a pre-seller and has stabilized at $7.00. 4th printing already and sets of #1-2 sell well.

#9 MASS PROJECT / FABULOUS KILLROYS FCBD – 1st appearance of Killroys based on the My Chemical Romance rock band characters hit a high of $33.00 the week of release of the free comic. New ongoing series starts in June.

#10 UBER #0 Sold out both printings instantly. Future is unpredictable – more speculators than readers bought this.

#11 BATMAN #13 / BATGIRL #13 – death of family storyline – these sold out and huge price increases in some areas

#12 THIEF OF THIEVES #1-12 Early issues still super hot – value peaked in January but still selling well

#13 HAWKEYE #1-10 The only hot back issue Marvel title with all issues in multiple printings. #1 now settled at about $25.00

#14 SAGA #1-12 #1 still super hot at about $80 down from peak of $100 – all issues in demand even with high print runs. #12 was hot for a moment when banned by Apple.

#17 REVIVAL (Image) #1-10 Early issues still super hot but definitely cooled in value from Jan/Feb peak of #1 $45.00

#18 MIND MGMT (Dark Horse) #1-10 #1 is really the only valuable issue at $40 but easy to sell sets at $80

#19 FIVE GHOSTS – HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY (Image) Mini series #1 and #2 sold out and 2nd printings – rumour of ongoing series. #1 at $7.00

#20 SPAWN #9 (Image 1993) 20 year old comic features 1st appearance of Angela by Neil Gaiman which enters the Marvel Universe this week in Age Of Ultron #10. Common book prices are anywhere from $2 to $100 a copy

#21 THE ACTIVITY (Image) #1-11 Hot in the past month #1 at $20

#22 THE DAMNED (Oni) #1-5 Generally #1 is a $50 book but a #3 hit $100 earlier in April on ebay. Author of Sixth Gun

#23 BATMAN INCORPORATED (DC) #8 Death of Robin hit about $13 now settled at $5.99

#24 MANHATTAN PROJECTS (Image) #1-10 All issues sell well but way down from Jan peaks #1 was at $90 now at $30

#25 HELHEIM (Oni) #1-3 #1 quickly hit $8 and stablized. 2nd printing of #1 may prove to be more valuable than the 1st printing.

#26 SEX #1-3 (Image) Lots of demand for #1 in pre-sale but has cooled down. #1-2 sell for $8.99 as set.

#27 STAR WARS #1 Reached up to $30 week of release but now at $10 but still popular. Sets #1-5 sell for $24

#30 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1-10 every issue seems to sell out at retail and gets a 2nd printing but not going up in value. Peter Parker ghost gone in #9 – series might last longer than originally expected. Readers very happy with this series.

#31 REGULAR SHOW #1 many variant covers sold out even with higher print run.

#32 ADVENTURE TIME – animated cartoon series – numerous printings now

#33 DREAM MERCHANT #1 (IMAGE) New miniseries sold out quickly.

#34 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (Marvel) 698-700 Death of Peter Parker storyline super hot in January – still popular due to storyline continuing in Superior-Spiderman

#35 OCCUPY COMICS #1 (Black Mask) #1 sold out issue based on the writings and thoughts of top comic industry people small print run on a issue dealing with the Occupy Wall Street theme.

#41 FCBD – 52 different comics were given away on May 4th 2013 for free comic book day. A lot of high prices realized the week of release. All prices have now cooled but due to not being shelved properly random various issues sell well at different times.

#49 DOCTOR WHO PRISONER OF TIME #1-4 First issues sold out and I did sell some #1′s above guide but some sellers still selling them at cover. Variant covers sell really well on ebay when initially released!

Thanks to John Jackson Miller at www.comichron.com for the initial Diamond sales figures data – see complete monthly Diamond sales chart and more stats at this site !

I am always happy to hear your comments and thoughts/criticisms on any of my posts.

Terry Hoknes (author) of Hoknes Comics loves analyzing statistics and watching the growth and fall of comic titles over a period of time. He sells all of the latest hot back issue secondary market new comics at www.HoknesComics.com and also self-publishes a series of books called “Investing In Comic Books” that focus on the Golden, Silver and Bronze ages of comics. hoknes@hotmail.com

Just a personal list from my own observations of the market. I believe these were the most demand and growing in value books during April 2013. I did not focus on variants specifically as I can’t even keep track of them all. If you think I have missed any titles please let me know. I will revise this list every month and you will be amazed at how much can change in one month good and bad.

#1 THE SIXTH GUN – all 29 issues sold out – many not even on ebay and low print runs. sold a #1 for $250

#2 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US – the only hot DC title small print runs and 3rd prints selling out. Currently at its hottest right now at $50.00 for set of #1-3 Many sellers with reprint sets that also sell well.

#3 RACHEL RISING #1-16 TV announcement this week helped drive demand up as Diamond sold out of even the current issue not yet out this week. #1 hitting $200.00 Many issues still available direct from publisher website at cover.

#25 STAR WARS #1 Reached up to $30 week of release but now at $10 but still popular

#26 DOCTOR WHO PRISONER OF TIME #1-4 First issues sold out and I did sell some #1’s above guide but some sellers still selling them at cover. Variant covers sell really well on ebay when initially released!

INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US – the only hot DC title small print runs and 3rd prints selling out. Currently at its hottest right now at $50.00 for set of #1-3 Many sellers with reprint sets that also sell well.

RACHEL RISING #1-16 TV announcement this week helped drive demand up as Diamond sold out of even the current issue not yet out this week. #1 hitting $200.00 Many issues still available direct from publisher website at cover.

STAR WARS #1 Reached up to $30 week of release but now at $10 but still popular

DOCTOR WHO PRISONER OF TIME #1-4 First issues sold out and I did sell some #1’s above guide but some sellers still selling them at cover. Variant covers sell really well on ebay when initially released!

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1-6 every issue seems to sell out at retail and gets a 2nd printing but not going up in value

MYLO XYLOTO #1-3 Chris Martin of Coldplay series – sells well at cover price but not really above

Thanks to John Jackson Miller at www.comichron.com for the initial Diamond sales figures data – see complete monthly Diamond sales chart and more stats at this site !

I am always happy to hear your comments and thoughts/criticisms on any of my posts.

Terry Hoknes (author) of Hoknes Comics loves analyzing statistics and watching the growth and fall of comic titles over a period of time. He sells all of the latest hot back issue secondary market new comics at www.HoknesComics.com and also self-publishes a series of books called “Investing In Comic Books” that focus on the Golden, Silver and Bronze ages of comics. hoknes@hotmail.com

Most of us who collect comics also collect other things and while I believe that none of you want to know how I acquired a hang nail from Red Sox Slugger David Ortiz, I can assure you that there is plenty of comic related material worth investing in. But collecting in multiple markets creates its own set of problems. Years ago I streamlined my collection and stopped purchasing action figures, posters and other materials simply because storage was becoming an issue. Once you start building a collection it can quickly spiral out of control. Example: I had to find a creative use for long/short boxes so instead of telling my wife that a storage unit was in our future I removed all the bed frames, sold the metal for scrap and used one layer of boxes per bed to replace the frames. With a little effort I was able to create tunnels for cats under each bed! Everyone’s money has to go to many things each month so identify what you love and go for it just don’t try and collect everything, you will go broke and probably lose a spouse or the love of your parents.

Star Wars Galaxy 2 ( bagged )

With the announcement that Chris Carter will create Season 10 of The X-Files, back issues should see gains. The ones I like: Issues 40,41 ( Both Photo Cover Variants ) of the Topps Series and this Star Wars comic. Inside of this bagged issue there is an X-Files ashcan that just happens to be a rare early appearance of The X-Files in comics!

The Image 2010 Yearbook

It’s pricey but if you are a fan of the Nowhere Men then you must find this. There a lot of debate about the Nowhere men right now. It’s one of Images hottest books and is demanding serious cash on the back issue market. Some say Invincible 19 is the comic to own but others believe the first appearance is in this yearbook ( which is also a must have for Walking Dead fans ) I say buy both.

Iron Man 304,305

These comics had pretty significant print runs but if the armor at the end of the most recent Iron Man 3 film trailer is any indication then the Hulkbuster armor could be a big part of the climax. You can find these comics cheap so why not buy real low and wait a few months?

Note: There is also a Marvel Legends Reprint of issue 305 that is a lot harder to find than the regular issue!

Thunderbolts 25 ( Series 1 )

Big Hero 6 is going to be a Disney Animated film and you were smart right? You heard about the film and hit every LCS you could find for Sunfire & Big Hero 6 1-3 and Alpha Flight vol. 2 issue 17. After that there weren’t any appearances for some time. But I’m guessing most people forgot about this issue from 1999.

Marvel Comics Presents 26 & Iron Man 230

If you are noticing a trend as it relates to collecting moderns then bravo! These days the modern market is a bull and the cornerstone of collecting is first appearances especially as it relates to characters jumping to the big screen. Honestly would you ever care about Coldblood or Firepower if not for Marvel Films? Now you must!

The Invincible Iron Man 10 ( secret bar code Variant )

I still believe that the second print of this issue will prove to be just as hot a back issue as this one. Any appearance of the Rescue Armor in the upcoming Iron Man film should boost the value of this comic. The cool thing about this comic is that the variant can only be determined by knowing what numbers to look for in the bar code!

Injustice Gods 1,1 ( Variant )

It’s not to often that I recommend a comic/video game tie-in issue but this series has generated some heat already. Based on a new game from the Mortal Kombat creators it looks like a fighter that just can’t fail. It helps that the art is tight and the Joker starts it all off with one of the most horrific acts in comic history.

The Image Comics Holiday Special

I have mentioned this little gem before but after the most recent episode of the Walking Dead every fan who collects the comics has to have this in their collection. Morgan first appeared in issue 1 and later in this issue. Now he has been featured in one of the show’s best episodes, Clear. Buy this and buy it right now!

Detective Comics 647

Damian Wayne is dead! Yea it’s sad because he’s the best Robin since the first Robin. I do sense a resurrection in the futures especially since the little bugger was grown in an artificial womb but until then there will be speculation as to who the next Robin will be. I want Cassandra Cain to take the role but it’s likely going to be Stephanie Brown. Fans are clamoring for her DC 52 intro and this could be the way they do it. This first appearance has been flying under the radar for some time and can be found for pennies.

This month is sort of a sequel to last month’s article concerning modern comics and the ridiculous prices being paid for new books. If you love trading in volatile markets then this current comic market is the place for you. Many collectors may be weary of investing at this time because of the similarity to an infamous bubble from the past. Anyone who remembers the bad girl/Valiant/gimmick days can attest to what I speak of. I always suggest caution when playing in the modern arena but many of these books have significantly lower print runs that the 90’s books and the writing is far superior to most of what was produced in those days. ( Many Valiant titles are the exception here. If you have never read Harbinger, Archer & Armstrong or Solar then now is as good a time to buy sets as any. )

Invincible 19

This one hasn’t blown up quite yet but it’s already scarce due to it being part of one of the greatest superhero comics of the last 10 years. So what’s so special about it now? Yet to been confirmed, the similarities are hard to ignore as it is likely the first appearance of the Nowhere Men! This book came out so long ago that it makes it a very interesting collectible. Many previews or first appearances happen within the first few months of the title’s release. In this case the situation is so odd you just have to love Image for it. They continues to keep putting out great comics like the Nowhere Men. If prices for early issues continue to skyrocket then this puppy is going to be huge.

Also see the Walking Dead 102 for a color preview of the Nowhere Men! ( look for the 2nd print also!)

Helheim NYCC Sketch Variant

If you’re like me and you don’t put a premium of many modern variants then here is a rare exception. Cullen Bunn’s been on fire with the Sixth Gun and much of his recent Marvel work has been great. His latest work pits viking against Zombie! That’s a money maker if I have ever heard of one.

Black Beetle 0,1 & DHP Vol. 2 11

Gritty Pulp comics have a special place in my collection so when Francesco Francavilla’s Black Beetle appeared in DHP 11 I instantly knew he had a hit on his hands. Francesco has done a limited amount of work but his earliest appears to be in the 1997 Comic Code Illustrated. Early issues are already drying up so act now.

Judge Dredd Megazine 322

Diggle and Jock’s new Image mini is off to a good start. Great art and writing almost always generate some buzz especially when the Image logo is on the cover. The odd thing about this comic is that is was serialized in the Judge Dredd Megazine 322 some time ago. They are nearly impossible to get in the states. Buy and hold.

Peter Panzerfaust 8,9

Hook has made his debut in the beloved Image series set to be a TV show. Issue 8 is his first appearance and 9 has a black cover making it very difficult to find in high grade. That incredible close up on Hook’s hook doesn’t hurt its chances on the back issue market either. It’s not often you see such rapid price increases but issue 9 was selling for 20-30 at online auction the day it came out.

Captain America Reborn 6 & Avengers 5 ( 2010 )

1:751:50

Both of these books have extremely rare variants. If the Age of Ultron is popular with readers look to these two books for the Ultron War’s earliest references. These issues that look to the future are always big with collectors.

Note: The Ultron War was mentioned first via blackboard/timeline that has since been a bit overused. One of my favorite splash pages that peek into the future is in The Amazing Spider-Man 695. Check it out!

3 Story: Secret Files of the Giant Man ( Dark Horse )

Last month I briefly touched on Matt Kindt’s Mind Mgmt and how it has been optioned by Ridley Scott. If you haven’t read the series I suggest you buy the trade because there is no chance you will be able to purchase this book for cover anywhere online. It’s a great read and the fact the Matt has included story elements that are specifically NOT being reprinted will make the individual issue that much more valuable. I also recommend some of his earlier work such as the Pistolwhip Series and this gem above ( also the first appearance of Mind Mgmt. )

and finally…

With Grant Morrison’s Batman run coming to an end with Batman Inc. Vol 2 #8 there are many rumors surrounding the fate of Damian Wayne. Damian has become a favorite among those who love Batman. If Morrison kills of the bratty boy wonder it would be a real shame since it’s very hard to create new characters that generate long lasting popularity. One of the most satisfying aspects of the young Robin is the possible future where he has sold his soul to the Devil??? to protect Gotham the best way he can. No matter what happens some of these issues are not that hard to find but that can change real quick.

The Mignola black & white variant above IS very hard to find. Good Luck!

-Topher

@Larfleeze

www.topherseal.com

(ALL Articles are Property of InvestComics. Any duplication or reproduction of this article, newsletter, podcast and or pictures and video or any media from InvestComics content is strictly prohibited without express written consent from InvestComics.)